How To Conceive A Baby Girl Naturally: 10 Tips
“Are you hoping for a boy or a girl?” This is one of the most common questions that every couple will hear when they are expecting a baby, or planning to try for a pregnancy.
Most people will say that it doesn’t matter, but since the beginning of time, humans have always desired a little control over mysterious gender gamble. In fact, there are hundreds of superstitions and rituals passed down through the ages that are supposed to help sway the odds in one direction or the other.
Today, thanks to science, we know a lot more about conception. We now know that the man, not the woman, ultimately determines a baby’s sex. However, scientists also feel other factors come into play as well. For example, they know that male sperm don’t survive well in an acidic environment, and that female sperm swim slower but survive longer. Whoever gets to the egg first is the winner.
Although there are no guaranteed, scientifically proven ways to conceive a girl that couple’s can do at home, the basic facts mentioned above can be combined to help increase the odds of becoming pregnant with your very own baby girl. The following are 10 baby girl gender selection tips that thousands of couples swear by:
1. Perfect Timing
A woman who wants to conceive a girl needs to be prepared to do some homework first. She needs a thorough understanding of how her body works and what ovulation means. With that information in mind, she and her partner should get ready to track ovulation and fertility cycles closely.
Two distinct methods of gender selection, the Shettles method and the Whelan method depend on accurate fertility charts. Both methods are similar, in that they act on the belief that sperm are more likely to survive at different points in the cycle, however the two methods differ on the “perfect timing”.
According to the Shettles method, a couple is more likely to conceive a girl if they have sex 2-3 days before ovulation. The theory being that the male sperm won’t survive long enough to meet the egg.
The Whelan Method, however, encourages couples to avoid sex before ovulation, and instead have intercourse when the woman’s basal body temperature is at its highest, at the peak of ovulation.
The Shettles Method boasts of a higher success rate. Both methods are more likely to succeed if a couple charts ovulation over the course of several months before trying to conceive, to make sure the woman’s ovulation occurs at regular times.
2. Using Condoms
It might seem odd to use a birth control method when planning to get pregnant, but many couples swear by this method. The theory is that using condoms and having sex frequently before the woman is fertile helps to eliminate the majority of male sperm.
This gives the female sperm a better chance of reaching the egg during unprotected sex while ovulating. (or right before ovulation). This method is probably best combined with the timing methods listed in tip #1.
3. Shallow Sex Positions
Again, this tip works around the fact that female sperm survive longer. By using positions that keep the male sperm as far away from the cervix as possibly, the couple is increasing the odds that the heartier female sperm will reach the egg first.
Although there are hundreds of opinions and theories about sex positions for natural sex selection, (dating back centuries!), the missionary position is probably the most popular choice for conceiving a girl.
4. Changing Your Body pH
Since female sperm survive better in an acidic environment, a woman can heighten her chances of conceiving a girl by altering the natural pH of her body. This is usually done through diet, where a woman consumes more acidic foods such as pineapple, tomatoes, pickled foods and vegetables containing folic acid.
Another option is the use of douches before and after sex. This should be done with the advice of a physician.
5. Diet And Weight Loss Management
A study done in Britain in 2008 found some correlation between women’s dietary habits and the sex of their babies.
According to the study, women who consumed less food, less calories, or less nutrients were more likely to conceive girls. The theory is that low glucose levels may make it harder for male sperm to survive and fertilize an egg, or for male embryos to remain viable.
Any diet or weight loss plan should be discussed with a physician or a good nutritionist. A new diet should be followed for several months, to allow the body to adjust to lower caloric intake, as well as to allow the pH of the woman’s body to become more acidic.
6. Heat
Girl sperm are thought to tolerate warm environments and higher temperatures better than their male counterparts. Therefore, a hot shower or bath with your partner before sex may be helpful. Just don’t get the temperature too hot, or take too many hot showers. Too much heat can weaken the man’s sperm and lessen the odds of conceiving at all.
7. Sex More Frequently
Another popular technique for conceiving girls is to have sex more often. This is often combined with the methods for timing ovulation, and couples are encouraged to engage in more sexual activity anytime after a woman’s menstrual cycle until 2-3 days before ovulation. Again, this gives female sperm the advantage, since sperm carrying the female chromosomes are able to survive inside the reproductive tract for up to five days.
8. No Orgasm
During the female orgasm, the body becomes more alkaline, which is more favorable to male sperm. Researchers still aren’t sure whether or not orgasm plays a part in conception at all. Some theories claim that it pushes the slower girl sperm closer to the mark, where as others claim it may lead to them being expelled from the woman’s body – giving the advantage to the faster males.
Still, women who have both girls and boys often say that choosing not to risk an orgasm is what helped them conceive their daughters.
9. Avoid Sinus And Cold Medicine
During ovulation, and woman’s body creates cervical mucus, which helps to ferry the sperm to the waiting egg. Male sperm, being more fragile, are thought to have a harder time penetrating the mucus. Female sperm seem to do better when there is more mucus.
Therefore, a woman should avoid any medication that thins mucus, such as sinus and cold medications containing guafenesin, if she wants to conceive a girl.
10. Be Romantic
This tip has the least basis in science, but hundreds of women swear by it. According to women with children of both sexes, their daughters were all conceived during planned romantic encounters, whereas boys occurred after spontaneous sex.
The theory given is that to bring a girl into the world, conception has to be an act of tender and romantic love. Even if it isn’t true, it is still a wonderful way to begin the life of any child.
Conception Is A Gamble
Although following these tips, especially in combination, may help – there is still no sure 100% way to conceive a girl naturally. Many couples are choosing to pay thousands of dollars for surgical interventions.
For couples who can’t afford pricey fertility treatments, it can still be a lot of fun to try at home. So chart those cycles, snack on some pineapples, and enjoy a warm, planned romantic encounter with your partner. Before long, you could be shopping for pink dresses.
(Note: I am not a doctor. These tips are for fun and are collected from various sources. Any woman planning to conceive should be sure to talk to her doctor about any dietary changes, medications and supplements in order to ensure a healthy pregnancy.)
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